Dracula (Spanish Version)

One of the intriguing facts about the filming of Universal's Dracula in 1931 is that, during the very same time, a Spanish version was made, using the same sets and the same script. While the English-language version shot during the day, the Spanish one filmed at night. I just got a chance to see the Spanish version for the first time last night and wouldn't you know, it's better.

It was directed by George Melford, who spoke no Spanish, and I think the key reason why it's better is that it's slightly longer--about twenty minutes--which allows a better-developed story. Also, there is not as much prudery involved. Tovar's gowns show much more decolletage than the U.S. version, and when Dracula swoops down on Lucy Weston, we see him cover her with his cape, making the scene more sexual.

I also enjoyed that there are extra scenes with Renfield, played with vivid insanity by Pablo Alvarez Rubio. Carlos Villar plays the Count. He was able to see dailies of the U.S. version and was told to imitate Bela Lugosi, but I think he gave the character an extra spin. Villar smiles with a grim rictus, his eyes bugging out of his head. There is absolutely nothing sexy about him. He also gives the scene in which he destroys a mirror held up to him by Van Helsing a bit more bite, no pun intended.

There are a few plot differences. Renfield, in the U.S. version, is fed on by Dracula himself, who waves off his brides, while in the Spanish version they feast on him. The ending, in which Renfield betrays his master by revealing his location, is more spelled out, and gives the Spanish ending more suspense. Although I'm puzzled why they didn't realize he would in Carfax Abbey, since that's where he lives.

This wrinkle in the history of Dracula on film provides an excellent example of how two films with the same script and sets but different directors can lead to completely different movies. By all accounts, Tod Browning was an absentee and disinterested director, with many scenes actually directed by D.P. Carl Freund. Melford seemed to have a much firmer hand.